Liquid stratification



July 9,1940. R. A. GULICK LIQUID STRATIFICATION Filed June 1, 1938 Mania? 1 Baas-6Z5 Patented July 9, 1940 v UNITED, srATEs 2.207.057 a mourn sras'rnucsrron Russell A. Gulick, Winthrop, Mesa, assignor. by mesne assignments, to Stator Corporation, a corporation of Rhode Island Application June 1, 1938,8erial No. 211,157

'6 Claims. (01. 257-198) This invention relates to means associated with a hot water tank for impeding the mixture of.

incoming unheated water with hot water in the tank. Stratification means or this type is more particularly advantageous in a combined refrigcrating and water-heating system of the type disclosed in the copending application of Lyman F. Whitney. Serial No. 192,343, filed February 24, 1938. Such a system is provided with a water tank having two condensers associated therewith, and arranged .to transfer heat from the refrigerating system of the apparatus to the stored water, one of these condensers normally having a relatively high temperature and the other condenser operating at a substantially lower temperature, so that the condensers may ordinarily be located respectively in hot and warm zones within the tank.

Apparatus of this character is also provided 20 with a dump valve operable to emit some of the hot water from the tank when the temperature of the region of either dissipator rises unduly. The apparatus, furthermore, preferably is provided with an auxiliary heater which supplies additional heat to the stored water when the temperature of water in the upper part 01' the tank falls below a dgtermined point.

As described in the above-entitled copending application, it is desirable to provide such a tank 9 with Stratification means to impede the mixture of incoming unheated water with heated water within the tank, and particularly in the upper part 0! the tank. Such stratification means not only avoids the undesirable reduction in temperature of water which has already been heated, but also avoids unnecessary movement of hot water into the warm zone and consequent unnecessary operation of the temperature-responsive dump valve and consequent waste oi hot 40 water. 4

Furthermore, such an arrangement prevents the unnecessary cooling of water in the upper part of the tank and consequent unnecessary operation of the auxiliary heater. As disclosed in the above-entitled application, such stratiflcation means may include an inlet connection for the unheated water which increases in cross section as it extends toward the tank. Thus, for example, the connection may be flared and may be 50 of generally frusto-conical form. The stratiflcation means disclosed and claimed in the aboveentitled application also comprises. a deflector plate disposed within ,the tank in close juxtaposition tothe wall thereof and arranged to extend 65 over the open end of the inlet connection and to a substantial distance at each side thereof. Ihe arrangements thus disclosed in the copending c application result in the movement of the water through the inlet connection and beneath the de-- fieotor plate to spaced portions of the lower part 5 of the tank where the water may flow at relazively low velocity into the lower part ofthe ank.

The present invention affords additional means for impeding the mixture of the incoming water with the heated water. ,This additional means may be employed either in combination with the flared inlet connection and the deflector plate of the co-pending application, or without one or both of these features. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, however, the stratiflcation means of the present invention is combined with the stratification means shown in the above-entitled application. In order to aid gradual flow of the unheated water into the tank and to cause distribution of the water so that it flows into different parts of the tank, the present invention provides one or more perforated plates in the region of the inlet connection. For

example. if the inlet connection is of the flared type such asdisclosed in the above-entitled application, the perforated plate or plates may be disposed in this flared connection, extending substantially across the same and providing a plurality of mutually spaced openings through which relatively small streams of water may pass upwardly. Preferably a plurality of plates are arranged ln'this manner so that they act as baffles 1 to impede the inflow of water under pressure, and to cause the incoming water stream to be broken up. In the preferred form of the invention there are three perforated baiiles arranged ln the general manner described, and

each of these baiiles may be of concavo-convex form. The smallest bafile may be located in the 40 lower part of the inlet connection and may be bulged upwardly while there may be a pair of larger baiiles disposed in the upper part of the connection and extending substantially across the same. For purposes of structural convenlence this pair of upperbailies may comprise similar plates, the lowermost plate, however, being bulged upwardly and the upper plate being bulged downwardly.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view or a hot water tank of the type employed in a combined rei'rigerating and water-heating apparatus and provided with stratiflcation means constructed in accordance with this invention, parts being tivity, such as a silicon-bronze alloy.

Fig. 2 is a sectional detail of the lower part of the tank showing the stratiflcation means;

. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the upper baffle plate;

Fig. 4 is a similar view of the lower baffle plate; and

Fig. 5 is a sectional detail oi' the stratiflcation means but on a larger scale than Fig. 2.

The accompanying drawing shows a hot water tank I which may conveniently form a part of a combined refrigerating and water-heating apparatus of the general type disclosed in the above-entitled application. Such a tank may conveniently have outwardly bulged end walls and may be formed of metal of low heat conduc- Such a tank may be provided with an inlet duct 2 and with an outlet connection 3, the latter having a branch 4 to supply hot water to the faucets of the house where the apparatus is installed, while a second branch 5 of this connection is associated with a quick acting dump valve 6 of the electromagnetically actuated type. This dump valve is arranged so that it is actuated in response to undesirably high temperature of the water to cause the outflow of water through the branch 5 to a suitable drain.

The tank may contain a. lower condenser or heat dissipator I0, such as the refrigerant condenser of the refrigerating system, and an upper. high temperature condenser or dissipator ll arranged to transfer heat from high temperature portions of the refrigerating system to the stored water. The condenser ll may conveniently form part of a closed system containing alcohol. this system being evacuated through a sealing connection l4 so that the alcohol may vaporize at a relatively low temperature and thus may readily rise to the condenser II and there give up its heat to the water within the tank I.

A temperature responsive bulb 20 may be located in a socket in the lower part of the tank, 1. e. substantially at the level of the condenser Ill, this temperature responsive bulb forming part of a thermostatic means which causes operation of the dump valve 6 when the temperature of the water in the corresponding portion of the tank rises above a predetermined point such as F. A thermostatic bulb 2| may similarly be arranged above the bulb 20 and substantially on a level with the high temperature dissipator II, the bulb 2| forming part of thermostatic means for operating the dump valve 6 when the temperature of the corresponding water rises above a predetermined point such as 170 F. A third thermostatic bulb 23 is arranged in a socket in the upper part of the tank and is associated with suitable means to cause operation of the auxiliary water heater when the temperature of the water in this part of the tank falls below apredetermined point such as F.

In order to aid stratiflcation of the water and to impede mixture of incoming unheated water with hot water in the upper part of the tank, the inlet duct 2 may be provided with an vupwardly flared connection 32 with the lower part of the tank i. To cooperate with this flared connection a deflector plate 313 may be arranged above the open end of the connection and in rather close generally parallel relation to the adjoining wall portion of the tank I. The margins of the deflector plate 33 preferably are spaced at substantial distances from the inlet connection 32 so that the incoming water passing upwardly through this connection is deflected in different directions by the plate 33 and passes into the main body of stored water about the various edges or marginal portions of the plate. Accordingly the inflowing unheated water does not flow into the tank in a single concentrated stream, and there is a region of substantial size which receives the unheated water. Furthermore, the space between the perimetric portion of the plate 38 and the corresponding wall portions of the tank aflords a passage of substantial cross-sectional area through which the water may move into the tank.

The apparatus and structure so far described are of the type disclosed in the above-entitled application. In accordance with this invention. stratification means may be associated with the inlet connection further to impede the inflow of water at a high velocity and to break up the incoming water stream. For this purpose I prefer to employ one or more perforated baffle plates extending substantially across the inlet connection and providing a plurality of spaced openings through which the incoming water flows in relatively small streams. r

The preferred form of such stratiflcation means involves the provision of a plurality of dished or concavo-convex bailie plates, for example, in the manner shown in the accompanying drawin'g. For this purpose the ,lower baffle plate 40, shown in Fig. 4, may be provided with an upwardly bulged body portion and with a single circular set of openings. The plate may conveniently be provided with three upwardly extending tabs or ears 4| which are secured as by welding or brazing to the wall of the flared inlet connection 32. It is evident that as shown the edge of the plate 40 may be closely spaced from the adjoining wall portion of-the connection 32 (Fig. 5) and that the plate 40 extends substantially across this portion of the connection.

Above the baffle plate 40 1 preferably provide two similar baille plates 45 and 45. One of these plates, namely the plate 45, is shown in Fig. 3,

and is provided with a plurality of mutually "spaced openings 46 through which water may may be arranged between the central portions of these baffles, the spacer providing portions of reduced diameter extending through the respective central openings of the baflles. The baffles then may be secured by brazing 49 to the spacer 43, the lower bafile 45 having its peripheral portion engaging the wall of the flared connection 32 and being secured thereto by brazing 50. It is thus evident that the baffle 45' extends entirely across the corresponding portion of the inlet connection 32 and that due to the flared shape of this connection the similar upper baffle 45 has its periphery spaced somewhat from the corresponding part of the connection. It is furthermore evident that the baffle 45 is preferably bulged upwardly and that the baflie 45 is bulged downwardly, the minimum spacing of these baflles being in the region of the spacer 43.

When water is withdrawn from the tank I either through the pipe 4 or due to the operation of the dump valve 6, the pressure of water in the supply mains causes incoming water to flow through the duct 2 and the inlet connection the main body of water at relatively low speed and under reduced pressure. Consequently the incoming unheated water is substantially prevented from rising into the upper part of the tank, i. e. into the region of the high temperature dissipator H and the bulb 2| or into the region of the bulb 23. As a consequence, even if a substantial amount of water has been withdrawn from the tank, a body of hot water may still remain at the upper part of the tank ready for use and substantially free from admixture with the incoming unheated water. Accordingly, unnecessary operation of the auxiliary heater due to reduction in the temperature of the bulb 23 is avoided. Furthermore, when, for example, the dump valve 6 operates, due to an increase in the 25 temperature of the bulb 2| to the predetermined point, e. g. 170 F., the incoming unheated water does not mix with the hot water in the tank in such a manner as to cause the temperature of the condenser ID to rise above the desired point, and thus possibly cause a second actuation of the dump valve due to the relatively high temperature of the bulb 28.

It should be understood that the present dis-' closure is for the purpose of illustration only and that this invention includes all modifications and equivalents which fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim: I 1. The combination comprising a hot water tank, a water inlet duct having a connection with said tank, an outlet duct extending irom said tank, said inlet connection increasing in crosssectional area as it extends toward the tank, and a perforated baflle plate in said connection. to divide the incoming water stream into ,a plurality of restricted streams;

2. The .combination comprising a hot water tank, a water inlet duct having a connection with said tank, an outlet duct extending from said tank, said inlet connection increasing in crosssectional area as it extends toward the tank, and a plurality of battle plates in mutually spaced relation in said connection to divide the incoming water stream into a plurality of restricted streams.

3. The combination comprising .a hot water tank, a water inlet duct having a connection with said tank, an outlet .duct extending from said tank, said inlet connection increasing in crosssectional area as it' extends toward the tank, a perforated bailie plate in said connection to divide the incoming water stream into a plurality of restricted streams, and a plate of substantial area within the tank in closely spaced relation to the wall thereof and extending over said inlet connection.

4. The combination comprising a hot water tank, a water inlet duct having a connection with said tank, an outlet duct extending from said tank, said inlet connection increasing in crossjsectional area as it extends toward the tank, and a concave-convex baflle plate in said connection,

said plate having marginal portions juxtaposed to the adjoining wall portions of the connection;

5. The combination comprising a hot water tank, a water inlet duct having a connection with said tank, anoutlet duct extending from said tank, said inlet connection increasing in crosssectional area as it extends toward the tank,

and a concave-convex baflle plate in said connection, said plate having marginal portions closely spaced from the adjoining wall portions of the connection, said baflie plate having mutually spaced perforations therein.

6. The combination comprising a hot water tank, awater inlet duct having a connection with said tank, an outlet duct extending from said tank, said inlet connection increasing in crosssectional area as it extends toward the tank. Stratification means within said inlet connection comprising a plurality of perforated baifle'plates, one of said plates fitting within a portion of the connection which has a relatively small crosssectional area andbeing bulged toward the tank, the stratification means also including a pair of substantially similar, oppositely bulged, perforated plates, one of which fits within the connection and the other of which is connected to the mid portion of the other similar plate.

' RUSSELL A. GULICK. 

